Blake Beck

Blake Beck was born in a small town of 600 people in Utah. He eventually went to Utah State University where he graduated in 1989 with a Business Degree in Finance and went to work at the Idaho National Laboratory in Project Management and Project Control. He completed his MBA from Idaho State University in 1994. He went to work for WorkForce Training in the state of Idaho in 1998, working to connect classrooms around the state of Idaho via Distance Learning Technology at the time. In 2001 he accepted a job teaching in the Marketing and Management program at Idaho State University using technology to connect classes and online software to move courses to the Web. He completed a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology in 2002. In 2004 he was hired as the Director of Educational Technology at Idaho State University where he was employed for the next 20+ years helping ISU expand their online offerings to over 2,500 courses and deploying technology in the classrooms to connect rooms in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Meridian Idaho in order to facilitate ISU reaching students in various disciplines that would not have been able to take advantage of a higher education otherwise. During his 25+ years of employment in Higher Education he has met many fabulous people that have shared his vision for extending higher education and its opportunities to those that had not been able to access it in the past. Many of the best people he has met have been involved in Educational Technology, specifically the Northwest Managers of Educational Technology, and played host to the NW/MET conference here in Boise, in 2010. This organization has provided lifelong friendships, friends with shared values and goals, and a place to learn and develop ideas on how to accomplish the work of extending higher education opportunities better.

Currently, Blake is a full-time faculty member in the Business Management Program at The College of Eastern Idaho. He has spent his professional career trying to live by the core value that education is the great equalizer and the belief that brains and ability are distributed evenly in the world, what is not distributed evenly is opportunity.

Blake is married to the beautiful Angie Beck, and they have been married for 37 years. They are the parents of 4 beautiful children and are now grandparents to three beautiful little people that occupy much of their time and thoughts. Blake continues to reside in Pocatello Idaho and is grateful to Higher Education for providing him opportunities as a first-generation college graduate and engaging and challenging employment for the past 40+ years.

Randy Stamm

Randy Stamm, a newly retired educational technologist and instructional design director from Idaho State University, brings over 30 years of experience in higher education. His career began in print graphic design, evolving alongside the digital revolution into website development, web conferencing, and ultimately the evaluation and implementation of learning management systems. Throughout his journey, he has been dedicated to advancing eLearning initiatives, promoting open educational resources, and collaborating with faculty and students to create transformative learning experiences. His work has been defined by a commitment to innovation, leveraging emerging technologies to foster inclusive, engaging, and learner-centered environments.

Randy has been a long-time participant and contributor to the Northwest Managers of Educational Technology.

More recently, Dr. Stamm has focused on sharing his expertise in artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and creativity within educational settings, continuing to inspire and support the next generation of instructional technologists.

Lou Hong

Lou Hong is a seasoned Senior Hardware and Software Technologist at Idaho State University (ISU), serving within the Information Technology Services (ITS) department. With over 25 years of experience in IT support across corporate, government, and academic environments, Lou plays a critical role in maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing technology infrastructure for students, faculty, and staff.

Lou specializes in diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues, ensuring seamless hardware operations, and managing IT assets efficiently. His expertise spans system imaging, network configurations, cybersecurity best practices, and the integration of emerging
technologies into classroom environments. Dedicated to continuous improvement, he evaluates new technological trends to enhance the university’s IT landscape.

Beyond technical proficiency, Lou is committed to exceptional customer service, delivering user-friendly support that enhances both educational and administrative functions at ISU. His ability to bridge technology and people ensures a smooth and productive experience for all users.

Lou Hong has been a fixture at NW/MET for years, as a conference attendee, a member of the executive committee, and as the de facto photographer. If you’re wondering why it is that Lou’s rarely in any pictures from the NW/MET conferences, it’s because he’s behind the camera. It’s no exaggeration to say that if not for Lou, much of the history and happenings of NW/MET over the past many years would have been lost.

Outside of work, Lou enjoys spending quality time with his family and capturing moments behind the camera, blending his passion for technology with a love for photography.

Dave Walk

In 2020, the NW/MET leadership voted to induct into the Hall of Fame “Media” Dave Walk, from Walla Walla Community College. “Media” Dave was a long-time member of NW/MET and was our conference host in 2008.

Doug McCartney

In 2019, the NW/MET leadership voted to induct into the Hall of Fame Doug McCartney, from Portland State University. Doug was a steadying force for NW/MET for many years and was our conference host in 2007.

Marti Morandi

Harvey Hughett

In 2018, the Northwest Managers of Educational Technology voted to induct Harvey Hughett into its Hall of Fame. In 2006, during his time at the University of Idaho, Harvey hosted the annual NW/MET conference in Moscow, Idaho.

Thomas G. Matney

Tom Matney led the Northwest Managers of Educational Technology twice and hosted conferences in Lewiston, Idaho in 1998 and Yachats, Oregon in 2002. He was director of educational technology and taught photography at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho until 1999 when me moved to Eugene to become the director of media services at the University of Oregon. Tom passed away in 2008 at the age of 57.

John Greydanus

In 2018, the Northwest Managers of Educational Technology voted to induct John Greydanus into its Hall of Fame. John was a director of Media Services, and later Academic Technology, at Oregon State University, and was instrumental in bringing the 2018 NW/MET Conference to Corvallis, Oregon.

Edward A. Bachmann

Ed Bachmann has been a member of NW/MET since Fall 1979 and has attended each annual conference through 2014. Ed has shared his knowledge and experiences via many presentations at the NW/MET events and served the NW/MET Board in the following capacities:

• Washington Caucus Chairperson, 1991-92, 2011-13
• Director Elect and Annual Conference Chairperson, 1993
• Director, 1994
• 2004 Annual Conference Co-Coordinator, 2003-04
• 2008 Virtual Annual Conference Coordinator, 2007-08
• 2011 – 2014 Executive Board BB Collaborate Meeting and Tegrity Conference Session Recording Support

Over the the years Ed has worked on a variety of projects in his positions as Director of Instructional Media Services at Seattle University from June 1978 – December 1984, Faculty Media Specialist and Media Services Director at Olympic College (Community and Technical College in Bremerton, WA) from January 1985 to February 2000 and as eLearning Director at Pierce College (Community and Technical College in Pierce County, WA) from February 2000 to November 2014.  He led initiatives like the building of ITV/videoconferencing services, the creation of telecourse and online programs, the rollout and migration of Learning Management Systems, the implementation of lecture capture tools, the design of educational technology facilities, as well as development of successful faculty training programs.

Ed also served as the inaugural Chairperson of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges eLearning Council in 2000, their Treasure/Membership Coordinator from 2001 to 2014 and collaborated on system initiatives, like WashingtonOnline and technology RFPs.

Ed is now retired and enjoys riding his motorcycle, boating, home projects, golfing and spending time with his family in Gig Harbor, WA.

Ben Hambelton

Ben Hambelton is a founding member of NW/MET, was a frequent presenter, a two-time director of NW/MET, and a host for several conferences.

Ben served as the director of Academic Technologies and an Asst. Professor at Boise State University for 35 years. During that time the department grew from an audio-visual unit of the College of Education with five staff members in a five-room space in the library to a campus-wide department with 21 professionals and dozens of student assistants serving teaching, learning and communicating at Boise State from a home in the 35,000 sq. ft. Simplot Micron Instructional Technology Center.

Ben provided leadership and vision to help guide the university into the digital age and to enhance both teaching and learning with the appropriate use of technology and instructional design. Under his leadership, microcomputers were introduced to campus, a campus wide network installed, and a wide variety of services encompassing digital media, e-learning, visualization technology, distance learning, computer-based testing and the use of mobile devices in instruction and created an extensive faculty development program. Ben also helped design and implement technology enhanced classroom buildings at the main campus and what was to become the College of Western Idaho. Ben’s professional interests included management, grant writing, learning environments, instructional design, learning support services and new technology.

In retirement, Ben continues to reside in the Boise area with his wife and sweetheart of 45 years and devotes much of his time to family and volunteer work.

Kees Hof

Kees Hof has been around NW/MET and active for many years, contributing with his great expertise and courage.  One very unique thing about Kees is that he is from Canada! He started in higher ed in 1975 with Vancouver Community College as a repair technician. In 1976 he began working as the video technician using 1″ sony video recorders. In 1982, he became supervisor of VCC’s Vancouver Vocational Institution AV centres, was the Industrial First Aide attendene, following this path for ten years. Kees completed University of British Columbia Instructor Diploma Program in 1984 and taught throughout the province for 10 years.

Kees was the manager of the Instructional Media Services (1994-2015) at Langara College, which was established as an independent public college from VCC,  (known as “house of teachings”, a name given to the college by the Musqueam First Nation, on whose unceded traditional territory the college is located).

In 1985, Kees attended his first NW/MET conference in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, where the main topic was Washington’s Microwave network and its day-to-day operations. Then in 1995, he hosted his first conference at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Resort in Parksville on Vancouver Island.

In 2001 and 2005 Kees hosted the NW/MET conference at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Resort in Parksville on Vancouver Island. (At the 2005 conference got most of the delegates building sandcastles, including Ben).

Some of his other accomplishments were producing audio books for post secondary reading impaired students (first in analogue, then transitioned into total digital), participating on several committees to get post secondary institutions in BC linked and using affordable audio and video teleconferencing. He also served on the board of AMTEC (Association of Media and Technology Educators in Canada) and designed inexpensive ‘enhanced classrooms’ and presented to several NW/MET conferences on the progress.

Some of Kees interests are being an avid woodturner and woodworker, a active member of Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild and American Association of Woodturners, using organic gardening caring for the environment and wildlife conservation, cycling, traveling, and exploring/learning new things with his grand daughter.